RAeS Lecture: Herschel & Planck - Europe launches the world’s largest telescope into space

On Thursday 30 April, the Royal Aeronautical Society will be presenting a free evening lecture by Dr David Southwood, the European Space Agency's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration. The subject of his talk will be the upcoming joint launch of the Herschel and Planck missions. Herschel is the largest space telescope ever to be built and a great European technical achievement. It will observe the universe in the far-infrared, a spectral region obscured from Earth by the atmosphere. The Planck spacecraft will observe the 'Cosmic Microwave Background' radiation with a sensitivity, angular resolution and frequency range never achieved before. Both satellites will operate at the gravitationally neutral L2 point 1.5 million kms from Earth. For more information, click here.

NASA's new online computer game

It seems that NASA will be releasing a computer game next year; Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond.  It is a massively multiplayer online game, similar to world of warcraft, but in this case players get to drive lunar rovers, live in martian colonies, operate the shuttle and international space station.  The online life of your character will be based around the development of skills (robot arm operation, EVA training, etc) which is rewarded with access to more parts of the game and access to cooler stuff (exoskeleton suits).  Additionally characters are able to interact with and develop communities, and do things in these communities like run for mayor of Mars.

Check it out here.

European Space Camp 2009

European Space Camp is a summer camp for young people aged 17 to 21, interested in space and science with a background in Physics and Mathematics. It runs at Norway's Andøya Rocket Range (it is taught in English) and this year it will run 29 July - 9 August 2009

Participants spend a week doing technical experiments, involved in a rocket campaign, working as real rocket scientists, learning how to exploit knowledge they already possess, as well as broadening their understanding of applied science. Through the work in groups they have to use their creativity, and learn to co-operate. The programme includes group work with hands-on activities related to the rocket launch, lectures and social activities.

The Space Camp is FREE, though participants have to cover their own travel expenses. The Registration deadline is 15 April 2009.

For more details, see the website or email salome@spacecamp.no

United Kingdom Space Conference - Student Bursaries

There are a large, but not unlimited, number of student bursaries available to students wishing to attend the UK Space Conference (thanks to BNSC and Reaction Engines who provided the sponsorship).

UKSC can offer students two days at the conference, April 3rd and 4th, including accommodation and meals for £20. There is an extensive and varied programme of top speakers from the UK Space Industry, Astronomy and Space Science. There will also be a lively social scene with a fiercely competitive water rocket competition and a UKSEDS social on the evening of the third. The cost of attending the Social is £10.

This is a superb networking and career opportunity. There will be representatives from many of the largest UK Space Industry employers as well as leading academics and researchers. To apply contact Dave Wright at: brohp2@aol.com.

Rocket Club Masterclass Session

On the 4th of Feb, Rocket Club hosted Marcus from M.A.R.S. to give a masterclass session on high poower rockets and some advice on build techniques.  He brought a variety of examples with him, particularly useful to the unlucky members whose kits still have not arrived.